NIH R01 · 2024
CRISPR-enhanced adipocyte browning to improve glucose tolerance in obesity and diabetes
The long term goal of this project is to advance a CRISPR-based technology that genetically modifies human white adipocytes to a “brown-like”, thermogenic phenotype with greatly enhanced ability to promote metabolic health when implanted into obese, diabetic mice. Gene targeting is accomplished in this project without viral or expression vectors, but rather by delivering purified, endotoxin-free Cas9 protein and sgRNA complexes to adipocyte progenitors with nearly 100 percent efficiency. The central hypothesis we will test is that simultaneous CRISPR-based disruption of two distinct “browning suppression” pathways will synergize and convert abundant human white adipocytes to large numbers…
From the public funding record at NIH RePORTER. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.